New Days Hold New Secrets

Chapter two

DISCLAIMER--- not mine...wish it was...

Chapter Two -- Welcome Home...

By the time the clock on the wall said 4:30, Hermione was ready to go. She knew that Blaise had said he would come get her at 5, but she was nervous that he wouldn't come, or that he would come early and she woudn't be ready and he would get angry and just leave her. She was nervous about her adoptive parents...she didn't want them to think she was abandoning them for her new family, her birth family...She paced the floor of her room, mentally going over what she was going to say when she met her parents. She was a total wreck, she couldn't figure out anything to tell them, she knew she was going to make a fool of herself. Nearing 5, she went downstairs to wait for Blaise and Draco to come and get her. She was quite happy that Blaise was coming, but was still a bit apprehensive about Draco. He seemed, different now, yes, but somehow, she felt that he was still going to treat her the same as before, calling her needless names, making her feel unwanted, and unloved.

Five o'clock.

Time to go...

She heard the audible crack of Blaise apparating into the backyard. She went to the backdoor and stepped outside, locking the door behind her. She looked over and saw Blaise smiling at her, while Draco, well...was being Draco. He was staring at her, apparently what she had on was enough to warant him to oogle her. She deftly stepped behind Blaise, using him as a shield, while Blaise stared down his best friend...

"Mate, stop oogling my sister. She may look different than she was before, and just because she does know what fashion is, doen't mean you can stare at her. I may have to do my brotherly duty, and beat the hell out of you." Draco looked at Blaise long enough to acknowledge that he had heard him, before looking right back at Hermione's, -ahem-, assests. Blaise sighed, and resigned himself to the fact that his best friend would never grow up. Rolling his eyes, he turned to Hermione.

"Well, you certainly clean up quite well...haha. (Yesterday she had only had her P.J.'s on when they came over...) Are you ready to go...Don't mind the blithering idiot over there...He'll smarten up once I tell mum what he's doing..." Hermione nodded her head, and waited for Blaise to apparate her to the house. Blaise wrapped her into a hug, and in a crack, they were gone, and they were now in the middle of a very large, very gorgeous living room. Blaise unwrapped her from him, she was still a little shocked from the feel of apparating, and spread out his arms...

"Welcome to Zabini Manor. Would you like the grand tour, or would you rather meet the family first?" Hermione could only stare in amazment...she had never seen a house that was a lovely as this..and she knew it could only get better. Blaise just grabbed her hand, and led her into a slightly smaller room, where upon entering it, she heard 2 yells of excitment, and one loud coo of a baby. Hearing footsteps coming at them, Hermione ducked behind Blaise, and let him introduce her to their siblings. Jax was holding Jordan, and had his hand on Alan's shoulder, holding him back from just jumping Hermione. He set Jordan down, and she toddled her way over to Hermione...and raised her arms in her sign for, "Pick me UP!" Hermione reached down, smiling at her younger sister, while Blaise pulled Jax and Alan closer towards them.

"I see that you have met Jordan, or Jordie as we call her. She seems to know you're family, she hates strangers...she takes a while to get used to people...or in Draco's case, she just never gets used to them." Blaise said, as Draco entered the room, and Jordie saw him...and let out an ear-piercing squall. Hermione looked at her in horror, she had never been around a baby, so she didn't know what to do. Jax sensed her discomfort, and took Jordie from Hermione, and began calming her. It was funny to see a 20 year old man using baby talk to calm his sister. Blaise looked pointedly at Draco, who, graciously bowed out of the room after realizing that this was just for family right now... Jax looked at Hermione, who, still looked quite shaken. She looked over and held out her hand, and introduced herself.

"I'm Hermione...your sister." Jax gave Jordie to Blaise, and took Hermione's hand...and pulled her into a bear-hug. She could hear him whisper in her ear so only she could hear.

"I know who you are...Welcome home baby sister..." And with that, Hermione felt something inside of her break, and she sobbed into his shoulder. Blaise nodded at Alan, who, dashed forward and hugged Hermione as well.

"Sissy...sissy come home!" Alan said...he may have been 8 years old, but he had a few slight learning disabilities. Their parents had all taught them that they had a sister, and she would come home one day. And now she had.

Upon hearing Alan's cry of "Sissy come home!", The lady of the manor decided to put in an appearance.

Athena Zabini was quite a beatiful woman, and it was easy to see where Hermione had gotten her looks from. With black hair flowing loosely behind her, close to waist length, and gorgeous crystal blue eyes...she was a knockout.

She walked into the room, and saw her oldest son hugging a girl about his height, who looked just like she did. She quickly strode over, and whispered into Jax's ear...after a quick hushed disscussion, Jax reluctanly pulled away from Hermione, wiping at some stray tears. He exited the room and took Blaise and the rest of the kids with him. Athena looked over her daughter with misty eyes, and soon enveloped her in a gentle hug. They stood that way for a few minutes before Athena took her daughters hand and led her to a couch that was in the room. This room was the nursery, but it still was great for holding comfortable conversations. Looking at Hermione, she slowly began to speak.

"I have waited for this day, for so long. My daughter has finally come home. And just look at you...you look just as I knew you would...Like me. We have so much to talk about...but much of it can wait for dinner. Is there anything you would like to ask me first? We can talk about you over dinner so that your siblings can hear it also..."

"Where's Da?"

Athena looked upon her daughter with bittersweet eyes...And began to explain..

"Your father...may his soul rest in peace, was killed, only a few months ago." Hermione looked at her, shocked...surely Blaise would have told her?

"But, Blaise didn't say anything...he asked if I wanted to meet our parentsone would believe that the S meant both."

"Yes, but Blaise was under orders from me. I didn't want him to be the one who broke the news to you...I wanted to be the one who told you..."

"How did he die?" Athena dropped her head...almost as if in shame.

"Your father was a very sweet man, trusting...too trusting. He was out with some friends...we had all warned him that they weren't to be trusted...they were all known Death Eaters...but he didn't listen. They, they killed him in cold blood, thinking that maybe if they killed him, Voldemort would somehow be able to get you." Hermione looked on in shock...she never would have expected that.

"That is also why Draco is here. He found out that his father was a willing participant in the death of his best friends father...and refused to take part in his initiation. He barely got here alive." Hermione put on a uncaring face when she heard Draco being dragged into it.

Upon seeing her daughters face...she let out a sigh. Blaise had told her of her daughter and her brothers best friends problems with each other.

"Now, now, Hermione... Give the boy a chance. He has had quite the rough life, and was raised to be the way that he was. I'm sure, given some time, that you could possibly be able to stand each other...maybe even be friends..." Or, even date each other...If I am that lucky. Athena thought. She had always had high expectations for her oldest daughter, and marrying a Malfoy would be one of the highest. But, judging by the look on Hermione's face...she would need to get Blaise to step in and help.

"Well...enough small talk...Let's get to dinner." Hermione looked kind offput by the sudden change, but quickly hid it with a smile.

"Ok."

Dinner was a busy affair, with questions flying thick and fast the whole time. She found out that Jax worked as a Cursebreaker along with Bill Weasley, and they had him over often for dinner. Jax had also been in Gryffindor, as their mother had been. Jordie was expected to be a Metamorphmagus like Hermione, and they even asked her to show them what she had looked like before the big change occured. Morphing into Granger proved funny once more as Draco, who, once again, wasn't paying one bit of attention, looked across the table and saw Granger sitting there, fell out of the chair, and somehow knocked himself out. Rolling her eyes, Athena motioned for Blaise to do the honors...as this was apparently a normal, everyday thing. After enervating his best friend...Blaise decided that he needed to show Hermione to her room. After the grand tour, He showed Hermione to her room.

"Your room is this one, the door next to it is Draco's. The door on the other side is mine and directly across from you is Jax. Alan's is to the right of Jax's and Jordie stays with Mum. We have adjoining doors, so if you need me, come get me." Blaise explained as he let Hermione into her room.

Her jaw hit the floor.

This was not an ordinary room. This room had like, three stories to it. The bottom was a sitting area, the next was an area for getting dressed and everything. It held three closets, and a bathroom. The top floor was her actual bedroom. And, all of it was painted a soft green, with gold trim. Her bed had a light green comforter, and the pillows were a golden color. Blaise bowed out...telling her she could get situated for the night and they would talk about if she was going to stay the rest of the summer here or not tomorrow.

She perused her reading area, and found many books worth reading, and looked through the closets, and found something comfortable to wear for pajama's. And upon getting settled into bed, she was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She dreamt of many things that night, but she couldn't remember anything but a pair of silver eyes watching her, everywhere she went. But, instead of being annoyed, or scared...it put her at ease. She felt...safe. She felt like she knew those eyes from somewhere...

But, where?

Ok...here's chapter two! Tell me what you think. Review! Oh...I'm shameless about this...this is a free advertisment for one of my favorite writers...ever... Atruwriter! Go read her fic "Blood is thicker than tears" Oh man, Her story will make you crave more!